When running a B&B, you are on the clock essentially 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You need to be there when your guests need you. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to be at the property all of the time. Take the pressure off yourself by investing in remote property management solutions for your B&B.

Here’s how you can improve your B&B management with remote technology:

Implement an online booking engine

With an online booking engine in place, your guests will be able to book directly with you online. They will no longer have to call in their reservations or email you to check for availability, which keeps you from spending endless hours stuck in the office making phone calls and replying to messages.

In addition to helping free up some of your time, an online booking engine will also help you increase bookings at your property. This is one of the simplest ways to begin managing your property remotely.

Use a property management system with mobile capability

Your property management system is a treasure trove of information, offering insight into the guests who are currently staying at your property, the seasonal booking trends and your distribution channels. It’s hard to break away from the B&B when you don’t have access to your property management system while you are on-the-go. To solve this issue, switch to a property management system that offers remote access. Leading property management systems will allow you to access your data from your desktop or preferred mobile device.

Create an effective communication strategy

One essential part of B&B management is communicating with your past, present and future guests. In today’s age of mobile technology, it’s easy to communicate with your guests from wherever you are. You can use mobile apps to chat with guests who are staying at your property while you are away, and social networking sites to connect with previous and prospective guests. You can even schedule automated messages on your property management system so that the majority of your visitors will never even know you’re gone.

Make sure that you and your staff agree on a consistent tone of voice for all communications, and that there is an outline available for acceptable responses to all guest inquiries and comments.

Invest in a mobile app for your B&B

Travellers are becoming increasingly reliant on mobile technology, and many are coming to expect that there will be a mobile app available to download for every place they stay. When you have a mobile app, you can manage guest requests, accept mobile check-ins and communicate directly with your travellers from any place in the world.

Using mobile technology makes 24/7 property management much easier. You’ll find that you can effectively and efficiently manage your B&B from anywhere in the world, which gives you the freedom to travel, visit family or simply take a few days off from being at the property.

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By Dean Elphick

Dean is the Senior Content Marketing Specialist of Little Hotelier, the all-in-one software solution purpose-built to make the lives of small accommodation providers easier. Dean has made writing and creating content his passion for the entirety of his professional life, which includes more than six years at Little Hotelier. Through content, Dean aims to provide education, inspiration, assistance, and, ultimately, value for small accommodation businesses looking to improve the way they run their operations (and live their life).